MedicNova Announces Poster Presentations At Annual Meeting Of The American College Of Chest Physicians

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediciNova Inc, a biopharmaceutical company publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq:MNOV) and the Jasdaq Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code Number: 4875), announced today that its intravenous beta-agonist MN-221 program has seven poster presentations scheduled during the Annual Meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Vancouver, Canada. The presentations are related to MediciNova's development of MN-221 for potential utility in acute exacerbations of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

After each poster presentation has been shared at the CHEST meeting, MediciNova will post links to the individual posters on its website at www.medicinova.com .

"We are pleased to share our research and clinical development of MN-221with the scientific community and are honored that all of our submitted poster presentations were accepted for inclusion in the ACCP's annual meeting," said Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MediciNova, Inc.

About MN-221

MN-221 is a highly-selective beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist. Preclinical testing in vitro and in vivo shows MN-221 to be more selective for the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor than other beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists commonly used for these asthma attacks. This improved selectivity, coupled with its partial agonist activity at beta1-adrenergic receptors, may result in bronchodilation with fewer cardiovascular side effects than are commonly observed with these other agents. MediciNova has developed an intravenous formulation of MN-221 that bypasses the constricted airways to deliver the drug to the lungs. In addition to the data described above, MN-221 has been shown in Phase 2 clinical trials to produce significant improvements in mean change in post-infusion FEV1 from baseline, an objective measure of lung function. Based on an analysis of the data from a recently completed Phase 2 clinical trial (MN-221-CL-006), doses of 240 micrograms to over 1200 micrograms of MN-221 administered to subjects with an acute exacerbation of asthma in combination with standard pharmacotherapy was associated with improvement in FEV1 compared to standard care alone, reduced hospitalization, and no clinically significant adverse events were attributed to MN-221.

MediciNova, Inc. is a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company founded upon acquiring and developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases with a commercial focus on the U.S. market. Through strategic alliances primarily with Japanese pharmaceutical companies, MediciNova holds rights to a diversified portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates, each of which MediciNova believes has a well-characterized and differentiated therapeutic profile, attractive commercial potential, and patent assets. MediciNova's pipeline includes six clinical-stage compounds for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations, neurologic disorders, asthma, interstitial cystitis, solid tumor cancers, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, preterm labor and urinary incontinence. In addition, two preclinical-stage compounds are directed for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. MediciNova's current strategy is to focus on its two prioritized product candidates, MN-221 for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD exacerbations and Ibudilast (MN-166/AV411) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, spinal cord injury, or drug addiction. Each drug candidate is involved in clinical trials under U.S. and Investigator INDs and MediciNova is engaged in strategic partnering discussions to support further development of the MN-221 and Ibudilast programs. Additionally, MediciNova will seek to monetize its other pipeline candidates. For more information on MediciNova, Inc., please visit www.MediciNova.com .

Statements in this press release that are not historical in nature constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding MediciNova's clinical trials supporting safety and efficacy of product candidates and the potential novelty of such product candidates as treatments for disease, plans and objectives for present and future clinical trials and product development, strategies, future performance, expectations, assumptions, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources. These forward-looking statements may be preceded by, followed by or otherwise include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "can," "could," "may," "will," "would," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties inherent in clinical trials and product development and commercialization, such as the uncertainty in results of clinical trials for product candidates, the uncertainty of whether the results of clinical trials will be predictive of results in later stages of product development, the risk of delays or failure to obtain or maintain regulatory approval, the risk of failure of the third parties upon whom MediciNova relies to conduct its clinical trials and manufacture its product candidates to perform as expected, the risk of increased cost and delays due to delays in the commencement, enrollment, completion or analysis of clinical trials or significant issues regarding the adequacy of clinical trial designs or the execution of clinical trials and the timing, cost and design of future clinical trials and research activities, the timing of expected filings with the FDA, MediciNova's failure to execute strategic plans or strategies successfully, MediciNova's collaborations with third parties, MediciNova's ability to realize the anticipated strategic and financial benefits from its acquisition of Avigen, Inc., to integrate the two ibudilast development programs and to pursue discussions with potential partners to secure a strategic collaboration to advance the clinical development of the combined development program, the availability of funds to complete product development plans and MediciNova's ability to raise sufficient capital when needed, intellectual property or contract rights, and the other risks and uncertainties described in MediciNova's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and its subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. MediciNova disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.